I simply refuse to buy cheese from anywhere other than Trader Joe’s. no other shop has such a wide selection at such low prices. it’s no contest! in part two of judging joe’s (check out my rating on their dips here) i’m rating below every trader joe’s cheese i’ve ever had. reply with your thoughts, favorites, disagreements!
halloumi: 10/10
I LOVE this cheese, the touch of herb is perfect. slice this and pan-fry it for the best chewy but slightly crispy salad topping. the block is expensive but it lasts longer than you would think!
herb chèvre: 5/10
the herb to cheese ratio is not great, I would not buy this again.
labneh dip: 7/10
yes this is a dip but it’s technically cheese. I am not an expert on traditional labneh but I do think it should be tangier than it is. a nice salad or pita topping with a little za’atar on top!
unexpected cheddar: 7/10
this is SO hyped, and yes it’s good but i’m not like, blown away? nice cheddar flavor but i’m not raving about this one.
boursin: 10/10
its the herby, spreadable goodness for me! if you have ever asked me to bring anything to a party, I will bring Boursin. the garlic and herb gives it a touch of flavor, and it tastes great on crackers, bread, salads, everything! my absolute favorite cheese in the world. unbeatable price @ trader joe’s too, at least $2-3 cheaper than Giant.
feta cheese: 8/10
the block is salty and briney! miles better than the feta crumbles, it actually has flavor!
feta crumbles: 4/10
these seem like they’d be easier to use, but they’re just kind of chalky because of whatever preservatives used to keep their shape.
blue cheese crumbles: 7/10
surprisingly not chalky or fake tasting, a great addition to salads or for the base of a blue cheese dressing!
pepper jack : 8/10
reliable ‘ol moterey jack! I shred this and freeze it for tacos and quesadillas! great price for the size.
brie bites: 7/10
super cute! a little expensive, you’re paying for packaging here. but a nice little babybel-like snack if you’re in the mood for brie.
blueberry chèvre: 8/10
great cheese board addition!! tangy with a hint of sweet from the blueberry. you’d think it’d be more jammy on the outside, but its more like dried blueberry.
goat chèvre: 9/10
the size is perfect, its perfectly tangy and creamy. this is a staple goat cheese!
dutch gouda: 8/10
strong flavor, great for cubing into salads or on crackers.
burrata: 10/10
AHHH!!! I love this cheese! this is the most affordable burrata I have found in the city, $5 for two large burratas. honestly, burrata is such a funny food – a ball of cheese filled with cream! I would put this on a salad and sprinkle with some fancy Maldon salt and olive oil. *chef’s kiss*
stilton blue cheese: 8/10
solid blue cheese, better than the crumbles!
goat milk brie: 8/10
perfect size of brie when you want a ‘lil but not too much.
triple creme brie: 8/10
don’t go for less creme on the brie, i’ve gotten the “lesser fat” version and the flavor is just bad – this triple creme is what you want!
shaved parmesan and asiago: 6/10
not great, shaved pieces have a waxy exterior. wouldn’t get again but i’m not a huge fan of parmesan in the first place!
hope you enjoyed my thoughts on trader joe’s cheeses! i’ll spare you any cringey cheese puns. gouda bye!
image credits: couchpotatoatx, whole foods, popsugar, boursin.com, its a veg world after all, exploring trader joes, trader joe’s, eatingwell.com, bon appetit,
aditi eats 